Electric liquid measuring and indicating means



Oct. 13, 1931. M. J. HUGGINS 1,327,525

ELECTRIC LI QUID MEASURING AND INDICATING MEANS Filed Sept. 11,1926 4Sheets-Sheet 1 E VGA] 12 :l I: 2911 1, :1

l 1 H 1 I I l INVENTOR HIS ATTORN Y 4 Shets-Sheet 2 E: E III M. J. HUGGINS Filed Sept.

ELECTRIC LIQUID MEASURING AND INDICATING MEANS Oct. 13, 1931.

INVENTOR -Hl3 ATTORNEY vOct. 13, 1931. J, HUGGlNs 1,827,525

ELECTRIC LIQUID MEASURING AND INDICATING MEANS Filed Sept. 11, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 II E 0' I a l I! I!" 1.0

H I 5 ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1931. M. J. HuGsms 1,827,525

ELECTRIC LIQUID MEASURING AND INDICATING MEANS v INENTOR ms ATTO NEYA mama a. 13,1931

um'rso srA Tss PATENT OFFICE EERION J. HUGGINS, OI UPPER SADDLE 31m NEW JERSEY, ASBIGNOR AUTO- METER COMPANY, INC 0! NEW YORK, NQY, A CORORATION OF DELAWARE unc'rnrc mourn nmsunme AND nmrcnrmo ms Application September 11,1928. Serial No. 134,908,

This invention relates toelectric current regulating means for use in connection with means to measure and indicate the quantity of liquid ina tank to control the actuation '5 of an electric indicating instrument connected with said means in circuit with a source of electricity to indicate the quantity of liquid, such an instrument bein discosed in m co-pending application Serial No. 7 23,241

10 w erein an indicator is ada ted to bevariabl positioned under the in uence of a ma netic force or forces induced' by an electric current flow, which forces are varied by and in accordance with variations in the current induced by introducing and cuttingout resistance in the magnetic force generating means proportional to variations in the quantity of 'liquidin the tank and thereby indicating the quantity of liquid in the tank, the

- same being particularly adapted for use in connection with motor vehicles, for instance, to indicate the quantity of glasolene in the gasolene storage tank, and t e'introducing and cutting out ofvthe resistance from the magnetic force generating means of the instrument actuating means being controlled b means which rises and falls with the liqui level in the tank, and it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved constructed and arranged current regulating device adapted to be mounted in a tank, which is simple and compact in structure and efficient in use. I

A further objectof the invention relates to the provision of a current regulating device forthis purpose which is adapted to be mounted as a unitary structure in an opening in a tank, and to provide improved means for removabl mounting .the device in the aseries of spaced contact makers also I provide a adapted for connection inthe circuit of the 'coil, and mount said coil in an enclosing housing of non-magnetizable'but conducting material and either one of which contact tank isolated mm the gasolene and its fumes.

ted

level in the tank, whereby variable amounts of the coil'froportional to variations in the quantity 0 gasolene in the tank are connected into and cut out of the opposite sides of the circuit. In the use of the current regulating device for this pur ose and controlled by the movement of the oat the same will operate efliciently while the vehicle is not in motion. However, when the vehicle is in motion the gasolene is sloshed and surgedabout in the tank with the result that there are sudden changes in the liquid level in the tank and in which changes the position of the float will participate and a true reading as to the quantit of gasolene can not be obtained from the instrument.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means to check the movement of the float and prevent the same from part cipating in such sudden changes .in the liquld level due to the surging of the liquid and maintain the float in a position which is slliibstantially the mean liquid level in the In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of an embodiment of my improved electric current regulating means and showing the same mounted in an opening in a tank containing the liquid to be measured, only so much of the tank being shown as is essential to an understanding of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially centrally through Figure 1 and looking at the right thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section and broken away looking at the top of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 lookin in the direction of the arrows.

igure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

igure 6 is a view sho in a diagrammatic manner the electric h k u of the current regulating device with an e ectric indicating instrument. 1

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved electric current regulating device showing the same mounted and suspended from an openin in a tank containing the liquid to be measure and showing a modified arrangement of the float actuated means for controlling the adjustment of the ma net along the enclosing housing with a modified arrangement of the means to dampen and check the movement of the float to prevent the same from participating in sudden changes in the li uid level in the tank; and

Figure 8 is a si e elevation of the arrangement shown in Figure 7 and a modified arrangement of the means to dampen and check the movement of the float.

the embodiment of the invention show in Figures 1 to 5 a coil 9 of wire of resistance material is wound about a bar 10 of insulator material, said rod or bar being arranged with a longitudinal recess 11 extending from end to end thereof. A series of 'equidistantly spaced contact makers 12 of magnetizable material and in the form of wire bent to ring or yoke form are movably mounted and electrically connectedin the bar recess 11 with the coil 9 in enclosin relation thereto. In the present instance t e contact makers are ivotally mounted at the ends in a bar 13 0 f conducting material and through which bar the contact makers are connected to a-source of electricity, in motor vehicle practice a battery, b grounding said bar and one terminal of the battery in the vehicle frame. The terminals of the coil are adapted to be connected in circuit with and control the actuating means of an electric indicatin instrument. The contact makers 12 norma ly assume a position by gravity outof contact with the coil as shown in Figure 2' and any one of said contact makers is adapted to be moved into contact with the coil 9 by a magnet 14 movable longitudinally of the coil, in a manner to be hereinafter described, to establish the circuit and connect variable amounts of the coil into one side of the circuit and cut out proportional amounts of the coil from the opposite side of the circuit. By the arranging of the recess in the insulator bar as the coil is wound thereon it is provided with a float portion extending across the open side of the recess, as shown at 15.

The insulator barwith the coil and contact makers is mounted and enclosed in a housing and whereby it is mounted in and suspended from an opening in the top of a tank T conis interposed between the coil and the tube 16 with the exception of that portion where the coil extends across the open side of the recess 11. The upper end of the tube is open and at which end it is connected to supporting means which also serves as a closure for the opening from which it is suspended in the tank. This closure means comprises a late arranged with a cupped portion 18 an the plate forming a flange 19 extending laterally rom the cupped portion whereby it is supported upon a ring 20 of angular shape in cross section, the cupped portion having an axial opening with the marginal ortion of the material about the opening anged inwardly and in which the open end of the housin tube 16 is engaged and secured, as at 21, as Ty a drivin fit and solderedor b screw threadin ne terminal 22 of the 0011 9 is extended t rough the bar recess 11, and electrically connected, as at 23, to a contact member in the form of an eyelet 24 mounted in a perforation in a ring 25 of insulator material seated in the cu ped portion 18 to extend about the fiangetfopening in which the tube 16 is secured, the end of the eyelet contiguous to the closure member being countersunk to maintain the same out of contact and electrical connection with the closure member, as shown at 26. The eyelet also serves to mount a contact member 27 upon the insulator ring and in electrical connection with the eyelet for a urpose to be hereinafter described. The ot er terminal of the coil is extended through a recess in the lower end of the insulator bar 10, as shown at 28, in Figure 1, and then throu h a recess 29 extending longitudinally of t e insulator bar, with insulation upon said portion of the coil terminal, and through the open end of the tube 16 into'the cupped portion of the closure member where it is connected, as at 30, and an eyelet 31 mounted in the insulator rin 25 similar to the eyelet 24 with the one en 32 countersunk into the material of the ring for the purpose stated. mount a contact member 33 upon the insulator ring in electrical connection with said eyelet for a purpose to behereinaftcr described.

The open end of the cu ped ortion 18 of the closure member 19 is c osed a plate 34 to arrange said portion as an enc osed cham- The eyelet also serves to ber in which the connections of the coil terminals are enclosed, and to close the end of the tube 16, to isolate the coil from the liquid in the tank in which it is sus nded, or from fumes therefrom, and also rom the atmosphere, and when used'in connection with the gasolene tank of a motor vehicle to revent ignition of the same by the creating 0 an arc by short circuiting or by the accumulation of foreign substance, or by the movin of the contact makers 12 into contact with t e collr ing the ring 20 over the 'mar 'nal portions of sand members, as at 36. he ring 20 has screw threaded connection with a second ring 37 of angle form in'cross section with a part engaged upon the tank about the opening and a art extending through the opening with w ich the ring 20 has screw threaded connection, as at 38, with a packing washer 39 interposed between the rings.

To connect the resistance coil 9 in' an electric circuit exterior of its enclosing means, as in circuit with an indicatinginstrument, aair of contact members in the nature of bindmg posts are mounted in and insulated from the plate 34, and comprise internally threaded eyelets 40, 41, en aged in openings 42 in the plate of greaterv iameter than the eyelets with plates of insulator material 43, 44 inter posed between the heads of the eyelets and the plate 34, the openings in said insulator plates for the passage of the eyelets being substantially of the same diameter as the eyelets, and as the eyelets are upset to secure them in position the mar 'nal portions about the openings in the insu ator plateswill be squeezedin interposed relation'to the eyelets and the wall of the openings in plate 34 eflectively insulating one from the other, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The contacts 27, 33 are arranged in contact with the eyelets 41.

Screws 45 are threaded intothe eyelets and electric conductors 46, 46' are connected to the eyelets and through the connection of said eyelets with the coil terminals by engaging 1 said conductors between the screw heads and the eyelets. To prevent accumulation of foreign substances upon the binding posts and the possibility of short circuiting they are enclosed by a cap 47 having a slip joint connection with an open end cupped member 48 secured upon the closure plate 34 by the eyelets 40, 41, and the insulatorplates 43, 44,

' said member having a recess 49 cut through in register to provide an opening for the pasthe side wall with which a recess 49 cut into the wall of the cap 47 is adapted to be placed -tioned relative to t ance with the liquid level in the tank by a .maker 12 it will be move the coil throu h'the attraction of the mag-' netic force of t e magnet, as shown in Figure sage of the conductors 46, 46', or 'a cable in which they are enclosed, as sliown at 50.

The device so suspended extends from the top of the tank to adjacent the bottom and the contact makers are moved into contact with the coils by the ma net 14 for the purpose stated said magnet eing preferably of the horse shoe type and adapted to be posi he housing 16 in accordfloat 51 which rises and falls with said liquid level.

a core 52 of the same cross sectional form as u on said tube to have sliding movement a ong the same and held against rotation. The magnet 14 is mounted within the float with the le pieces positioned relative to the flat portion of the float core and tube, as shown at 53, Figure 4, and as the magnet is positioned by the float op osite to a contact into contact with 2, where they uppermost contact maker is shown attracted by the magnet into contact with the coil.

To revent sudden movement of the float with t e magnet upon thetube when the device is used in connection with motor vehi cles for measuring and indicating the quantity of gasolene in the gasolene tank by the float (participating in sudden changes in the liqui level of the gasolene due to the sloshing and surging movement of the asolene im arted thereto by the movement 0 the ve-' hic e, and to maintainthe float in a position which is substantiall the mean level of the gasolene in' the tan the device with the float mounted thereon is arranged in "a receptacle R, which is in the nature of an'auxiliary tank, said receptacle being substan-' tially of the same diameter as the float and: open at the upper end where it is connected to'the closure and suspending means, which also serves asa closure for the open end of the receptacle, by engaging the open endof the receptacle inthe ring 20, as at 54. The receptacle R is in llquid communication with the tank T through a restricted port 55 in thelating means may be engaged in the opening in the tank and removed therefrom as a unit The float is of the hollow type having,

for the urpose of -repairs or the substitution of anot er unit.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 7 the enclosin housing 16 is in the form of a casting an constructed integral with the closure members 18, 19. Instead of connecting the terminals of the coil 9 with the contact members 33, 27 carried by the insulator rin 25, the terminals are connected directly wit the contact members 40, 41 mounted in and insulated from the closure plate 34, said plate being arranged with a cupped portion in o posed relation to the cupped portion 18 0 plate.

19. Also instead 0 uniting said plates 18, 19 and 34.- by flanging the ring 20 over the peripheral ortions 0 said plates the plates are clampe between a collar 58 fixed to and extending about the opening in the tank by a flanged ring 59 having threaded connection with said collar and the flan e engaging over the plates of the closure mem er.

The electric current regulating means does not extend from the top to the bottom of the tank, but is of a length to extend about one-half or slightly more than one-half of said distance, with a part of the housing 16 extending beyond the same serving as a pivotal support for the float carrier in the form of a rod 60 arranged with a loop intermediate its ends whereby it is mounted upon a pinextending laterally from the extended portion of the housing 16, as at 61, a float 62 of the hollow ball type being connected to one end of the rod, while the other end of the rod has a link connection 63 with a collar 64 slidably mounted upon the housing 16 below the magnet 14, the ma net being of the ring t pe extending aroun and slidably mounte upon the housing. It will be noted that when practically all of the liquid has been withdrawn from the tankthe magnet will be at the top of the housing instead of at the bottom as in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4, when all of the resistance will be connected into the circuit and the electrical hook u of the electric current regulating means with the indicating instrument is reversed from that shown in Figures 1 to 4. It will be obvious that as the float falls with the liquid level the magnet will be moved upward on the housing by the ring 64, and as the float rises and the collar is moved downward on the housing, the magnet will move downward by gravity, or if desired it may be attached to the collar and positively moved therewith. 1

To check the movement of the float and prevent the same from participating in sudden changes in the liquid level in the tank and thus maintain the float in a position which is substantially the mean liquid level in the tank, a checking and dampening means to the movement of the float is provided.

This means comprises a cylinder 65 closed,

otally mounted at one end one cylinder to have movement relative to the other. As shown the cylinder 65 is pivy a rod 67 upon a pin extending laterall from the housing extension, as at 68, whihe the plunger 66 is engaged in the cylinder 65 and pivotally connected to the float centrally thereof, as at 69. The pivotal-support 68 of the cylinder 65 is eccentric to and below the ivotal support .61 of the float carrier with the result that the pivotal connection 69 of the plunger with the float will have a greater radius than the distancebetween the connection of the,

floatwith its carrier and the pivotal support of the latter with the result that'when the -fioat is in its uppesmost position, shown in dot and dash lines, the plunger will be somewhat. withdrawn from the cylinder, and should-there be a surging of the liquid in the tank which would tend to suddenly lower the liquid level atthe float end of the tank the tendency of the float to also participate in said change in the liquid level will be checked and retarded b the movement of the lunger into the cylin er, which will be resisted b the. air in the cylinder or any li uid whic may have seeped therein should t a same be submerged in the liquid.

The construction and arrangement shown in Figure 8 is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figure 7 with the exception of the means for checkin and preventin the sudden movement of t e float. .In this arran ement the housing projection is exten ed to adjacent the bottom of'the tank and the plunger or piston 66 is pivotally connected thereto, as at 70, the cylinder 65 being pivotally connected to the float carrier intermediate its pivot support 61 and connection with link 63, as at 71. The cylinder and plunger function in a manner substantially the same as the cylinder and plunger in the structure of Figure 7 to check and retard the sudden movement of the float. The float in the arrangements shown in Figures 7 and 8 are elongated relative to the diameter.

thereof and while the device in the arran ement shown in Figure 7 may be readily inserted as a unit through the tank 0 ening, due to the connection 71 of the cylin er with the float carrier 60 in Figure 8 with the float carrier having a fixed pivotal connection with the link 63 difliculty would be experienced in removing the device from the tank opening. To facilitate the removal the link 63 is arran ed with an elongated slot 72 in which the ent end of the float carrier is arran ed to have sliding movement, whereby the oat carrier may be adjusted to extend in a direction longitudinally of the housing 16. The connection of the float carrier is yieldingly maintained at the lower end of said slot in order that the float carrier mag properl to ad'ust themagnet 14 t rough the rise an fall 0 the float by a spring 73 coiled about the link and confined betweena collar 74 fixed on the link and a collar 75 slidable on the link and urged by the sprin into engagement with the float carrier an the con-" nlection of the carrier atthe lower end of the s ot.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated in a diagrammatic manner the electrical hook up of my improved electric current regulating means with an electric indicating instrument and source of electricit the resistance coil bein indicated at a an the contact makers wit the magnet toattract and move the sameinto contact with the coil by the arrow 6 and sho'w-. ing the same in a conventional manner as grounded. The terminals'c, d of the coil are connected with one terminal of a air of coils e, f embodied in\the indicating instrument the op osite terminals g, h being connected with ahattery, shown in a conventional manner at B connected with the contact makers force generated b the coil e moving the ring in the direction 0 the arrow 10, and the force I generated by the coil f movin the ring in the tank.

the direction of the arrow 1. e ring constitutes a part of the indicator means of the instrument which ma be in the form of a disk or drum with cali rations thereon movablewith the ring. B this arrangement as the magnet is move alon the enclosing housing 16' and a contact ma er 12 is attract ed tov the coil a portion of the resistance coil, depending upon the position of the magnet, is cut out from one side of the circuit and one of the instrument'coils, say the coil e, and simultaneously therewith aproportional amount of the resistance coil is connected into the other instrument coil f whereby the ma force generated by one coil is increa that generated by the other coil pro ortionally' decreased. This increase and ecrease o f the magnetic forces generated by the instrument coils is also proportional to the variations in the quantity of li uid' in etic ment coil e ma be connected directly with the battery as y grounding the terminal a whereby the value of the magnetic force value of the magnetic force generated by said instrument coil will be varied relative to the function conductor member, said contacts In some; instances t e one instrument 0011, for instance. the instruvalue of the force eneratod by coil e and thereby controlling t e movement of the indicator ring j.

Having thus described my in vention I claim: s l

1. In a rheostat device, a rod of insulating material having a recess extending longitudinally thereof, a coil of electric resistance wire wound around and bridging the recess in said rod, a conductor member mounted in the rod recess, and a series of contacts ivotally carried by said conductor member wlthin the rod recess to have independent movement'toward and make contact with the rtion of thecoil bridging the rod recess, an ,said contacts normally assumin a position by gravity out of contact with t e coil.

2. In arheostat device, a rod of insulatin material having a recess extending longitudinally thereof, a coil of electric resistance wire wound about said rod and bridging the recess therein, a conductor membermounted 1n the rod recess, a series of contacts pivotally carried by and spaced longitudinall ofsaid eing in electrical connection with the conductor member and adapted to have movement in a direct-ion toward and make contact with the portion of the coil bridging the recess in the rod and normally assumin a position by gravity out of contact wit the .coil, and means movable longitudinally ofthe coil to attract the contacts independently to the coil to connect the coil in an electric circuit throu h an of said contacts.

3. n a oat controlled rheostat device, a rod of insulator material havin tudinal recess therein, a bar of con uctor macoil wound about and bridgingthe recess-in the rod and out of contact'with the conductor a longibar, contacts of magnetizable material carried by'said bar within the recess of the rod to have independent movement on axes transverse to the ongitudinal axis of the bar and connected in serles through the bar, said contacts being arranged in opposed relation to and normally assuming a osition out of contact with the windings o the coil bridging the rod recess, a float movable longitudinally of the coil, and a magnet carried by the float operative to attract and move the contacts into contact with the coil.

4. In a rheostat device as claimed in'claim 3, a tubular housing of electric conducting and non-magnetic material in which the coil and contact carrying rod is carried with the coil insulated from said housing and the contact carrying bar in electrical'connection with said housing, and the magnet carrying float movable longitudinally of the housing.

.- 5. In a quantity indicating device for liquid tanks, a rod of insulator material having ing relation to the recess, a conductor mount-. ed in the rod recess, contacts of magnetizable material pivotall mounted on and connected in series throug said conductor, said contacts being spaced longitudinally of the conductor in opposed relation to the coil wind ings bridging the rod recess and normally out of contact with the coil and adapted to have movement into contact with the coil, a tubular housing of electric conducting and non-magnetic material and open at one end carrying said coil and contact carrying rod said housing being insulated from the coi and in electrical connection with said contact carrying conductor, means to which the housing 15 connected at the open end to suspend the same from an opening in the tank containing the li uid to be measured, said suspending means eing arranged to serve as a closure for the tank opening and the open end of the housing, a float movable longitudinall of the housing, and a magnet carried by the oat operative to attract and move the contacts into contact with the coil 6. A quantity indicating device for liquid tanks as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to mount thehousing in the o ning in the tank comprises a cupped mem er having a laterally extending flange and in the bottom of which member'the housing is secured at the open end and opening thereto, a cover plate for the opening to and arranging the cupped member with an enclosed chamber,

a ring flanged over the peripheral portions of the cover plate and flange of the cupped member to secure the same together, said ring being adapted for mounting in the tank opening, contact terminals carried by and insulated from the cover plate arranged for connection of electric conductors, and means within the cupped member in electrical connection with the contact terminals carried by the cover plate to which the terminals of the coil are electrically connected.

7. A quantity indicating device for liquid tanks as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to mount the housing in the opening in the tank comprises a cupped member having a laterally extending flange and in which the housing is mounted at the open end and opening thereto, a cover plate for closing the opening to and providing a closed chamber in the cupped member, a ring flanged about the peripheral portions of the cover plate and flange of the cupped member to secure the same together and adapted for mounting in the tank opening, tubular contact terminals mounted in and insulated from the cover plate, screws threaded into said contact terminals for connecting electric conductors to said terminals, contact terminals to which the terminals of the coil are connected, a carrier of insulator material for said latter contact terminals within the chamber, and yielding contact members electrically connected with the latter contact terminals and in 'eleotrical connection with the contact terminals carried by the cover plate.

8. In a quantity indicating device for liquid tanks, a bar of insulator material having a longitudinally extending recess therein, contacts of magnetizable material, means carried by the bar within the bar recess upon which the contacts are pivotally carried and electrically connected in series, a coil of resistance material wound about the insulator bar in enclosing relation to the contacts within the bar recess and with which coil the contacts are adapted to make contact, a tubular member of conducting and non-ma etizable material closed at one end in whic the coil and contact carrying insulator bar is mounted, insulation interposed between the tubular member and coil, means to which the tubular member is connected at the o n end to serve as a closure for said 0 n on of the tubular member and a mountmg for suspending the tubular member from an opening in the tank, a float slidably mounted on the tubular member, a magiet carried by the float operative to attract the contacts to the coil, and a receptacle connected to the closure and mounting means for the tubular member to enclose the tubular member with the float mounted thereon and having a restricteduport for the passage of 1i uid to the tubular member from the tang an from the tubular member to the tan Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, 10 this 19th day of February, 1926.

MERIO J. HUGGINS. 

